Ricoh GR IIIx Review - Same great GR body, now with a 40mm lens! 

If you added all of the items Chris complains about (evf, flip out screen, bigger battery, etc) the camera would become heavier, bigger and more expensive. Thank goodness Ricoh doesn't listen to youtube reviewers. Choose the right tool for the job. The griiix is perfect for a unique niche of shooters

Pocketability in a camera has got to be the most underrated aspect of all specs. I had a GR several years ago and it was worth the price just for the fun factor alone.

I didn't know mini Chris talking about ricoh would be this convincing haha.

Can’t stop watching mini Chris.

I have GR II and absolutely love it. I tend to use it more than my bigger camera.

Some of the best reviews. Objective, informational and practical

Can’t wait to get mine. Pairs well with the 3 and they provide a unique experience in today’s camera experience that is not for all but really works for me.

Very honest review. Congrats.

still rocking and loving the GR2 🤘

Cool! Thanks for this review!

Another great review!

Hi, I enjoyed your review! I was the first to review a RU-vid channel in Korea, and I think gr3x is a very attractive camera. Thank you for the information!

Love this review. And thrilled that Rushmore has made it to Canada :-)

I've been watching you guys for over 10 years, now I just click on the video, press like, add to a list and leave. Then I'll watch it someday while doing dishes and thinking about all the cameras I wish I had but can't afford. 😅

Still have it, still love it ! Great Camera

Every time I think I don't need a Ricoh GR, I see a review like this that makes me feel like I should at least consider it. I can't put my finger on it, but there's something about this particular line of cameras that seems unique and appealing to me

I've configured my GRII to go into manual focusing mode after clicking the "Macro" button on the joystick. The actual focusing was done with the +/- button. I think this approach fits GR's philosophy - still perfectly usable with just one hand.

I love my GRiii, for street photography it is excellent. I enjoy city weekend breaks and I travel light so the GRiii is perfect, it's a camera for spontaneous image grabbing.

+1 on the snaperture setting in the snap focus settings. Not sure how it would work but I guess it would be good to be able to set different /optimum apertures for different distances, e.g. f8 for 1m, f5.6 for 2.5m and f4 or f2.8 for 5/10m.

great review

Ricoh is the only company that actually made a serious pocketable compact. Nothing compaired to what we used to have in the film days. Cameras like Contax T2 & T3, Nikon Ti etc has never returned in digital form, until Ricoh did it. They should have called it Phoenix instead...

Ooh, shooting on the olympus!

My GRIII is my favorite camera to use due to it's 'fun factor', and I do love the 40mm focal length but I doubt I'll pop for another thousand bucks to get it. Your review was spot on.

Shot on Olympus E-M1 Mark III...I LOVE that part!

Great Review; excellent run thru of the positives & negatives, now with a 40mm lens. Sounds interesting, and the size looks absolutely fantastic. But I like to look thru a viewer …. But I will hold one next 58me I’m in a (well stocked) camera shop. //. Always very watchable and informative, thks Chris.

I have the x100v and still want this. The Fuji is just big enough to be inconvenient to carry at times.

looking forward to seeing you test the 1.5 TC for this

Great review, but Chris, the camera has 3 custom user setting modes on the dial, making it super easy to make multiple snap focus modes if that's a high-priority for you!

The GRIII is what it is whether you go for the 28mm or 40mm equiv lens. The optical quality of the 28mm is drop dead outstanding (reminds me of the Olympus XA 35/2.8 capsule film camera). The first generation GR after the acquisition of Pentax by Ricoh clearly benefited from Pentax's excellent lens designs and I am sure this 40mm is the same. As a GR shooter since 2013 and owner of the GR and GRIII I have consistently created fantastically sharp and colourful photos with the cameras. In some ways it reminds me a lot of the build and optical quality of a Leica. If you need an EVF, or a zoom lens, or even an interchangeable lens then either of the GRIIIs are not for you. If you want an experience which allows you to concentrate on the scene with the kind of minimal intervention by the camera normally associated with a Leica body, then for a lot, lot less money this is the camera for you - and it is possible to create professional results (which I have) from these amazing photographic tools.

2:45 "Snapture" can be achieved by using P mode and set the program line to DOF priority

Chris is working hard these days!

Idk what but something about videos shot on olympus seems really satisfying and full of life, just like fuji….

sehr schöner Report !

Thanks for the video

6:47 This is why I love this channel. Can't stop laughing 😆

Still think the original 28mm lens suits the GR series more as a street photography camera. I also think a tilt screen would definitely help with the hip shooting!

The biggest flex in this video is the EM1s IBIS hahaha

I would love to see the lens tests a bit more zoomed in when comparing, the small crop doesn't really provide that much more information

That snaperture bit was hilarious XD

Hope you guys (or DPR) manage to review it with the 75mm-e teleconverter. Been wanting something like that for ages.

Love my GRII, will definitely consider to buy this, as I find the GRII a bit wide. I wonder why they didnt make it 50mm...

The battery life is the trade off you get for the pocketable form factor and a LOT of energy demanding tech in that small size. I have that with my RX1Rii, but I always carry 5 batteries around charged up in my "man bag", and they are cheap to buy, easy and light to carry, quick and easy to change, so not too much of a pain in practise. As a battery approaches the "red line", I promote a charged battery to my jacket/ jeans pocket ready to deploy as fast as possible. I actually really fancy a GR3, but the wider one. Not yet pulled the trigger mind!

Will it be a better choose to choose the iiiX for portraits?

You could always just get a GRII if you want amazing battery life. Easily lasts a full day and night of shooting. Must be the stabilisation that drains the battery on the GRIII. Definitely want that 40mm lens though!

Hi Chris. Regarding your 'snaperture' comments, have you experimented with the new DOF priority setting? I believe this only works in P mode however.

I’m glad these cameras exist for those who want them, but I’m certainly not the target market. I am not a back screen shooter at all and if I am ever using the screen, it’s to take waist level photos…which this can’t even do. LOL

I think the whole thing with the display/EVF is that framing from the hip is a lot easier with a wide lens, the longer lens means you will miss an EVF/decent screen even more. Plus you don't want to turn it off to save battery.

you can adjust the aperture in snap focus mode by adjusting the dof

Very well made. That Olympus ok camera you shot the video on is pretty decent. But well it's Jordan's magic so that will do it for almost any camera.

Best street point and shoot available hands down

40mm and monochrome bring out whole different Chris. Just like the F4 and the GM5. Chris this is your camera.

Please please please please do a review of the Nikon 40mm 2.0 I'm dying to see a review on this lens

Nice the Olympus OM-D E-M1 m3 for principle photography.

I’m gladthat you pointed out that snap focus is a little harder due to it’s 40mm lens. I didn’t think of that, and I don’t think I saw anyone pointing it out. I own a GR III and I love it just the way it is. The only complain I have is that I trusted the sensor cleaner and as a snap shooter, I kept it in my pocket, but now I have a few visible dust spot on the sensor. I’m not a trigger happy shooter unless I shoot sports, so my battery last me all day for the most part. Thanks for the review.

Great info, great critique plus some amusing (small) barbs with his Cam/Dir; all in good fun. By the end I knew the good and bad points of the camera; how compact and desirable it can be, but no updating of the viewing screen, (which seems very cheap of them, esply as no EVF). But I know enuf to decide if I mite want one and how it compares with the Fuiji X100v, which I guess is it’s main competitor. / Thkz.

Been considering picking one up, but I'm going to wait until the battery life has been improved.

06:34: I NEED that Rushmore poster!

What about macro capabilities? Has it improved or stayed on same level?

I love 40mm. I am the audience for this camera. Looking at pricing though (in Australia at least), there’s only $50 between the GRIII & the X100V. Holy cow.

Any dust invading the lens issue? I loved my earlier model!

Great camera. Directly salivating flow from the updated model. Too bad it's very expensive.

I had a GRII, missed the EVF and was hoping for a hot shoe mount too. I also didn’t like the 28mm eq. lens… so that 35mm eq. one is tempting because I really liked this camera. I took it with me more often than my x100 that I like a lot.

Ability to set a minimum shutter speed along with the snaperture could be handy as well!

I’m just happy to be involved...

I had the detachable evf for my gx1 (shown in example) and I ended up selling it. Hardly used it because I wanted the camera to remain small

Aha. This is what I have been wishing for, a companion for my GR2. Ideally it should have had a 75mm equivalent but this gets me close enough :-)

Great camera for 2011!

As I see it the only thing this camera has going for it is the size so it fits in a pocket. I find this very appealing, however I get the impression you can’t take it out in the rain or dusty places ( including pockets), you cant see the screen in bright sun light and it won’t focus all that well at night? It sound like a huge compromise with a hi price tag.

plus vote for the Snaperture !

Nice & Thanks :)

I get this camera. It's a bit of a hard sell to the missus, what with my other gear and the quite capable phones, but I'm buying it. Several reasons: -super easy to always carry - my usual camera feels like a big hassle, there's always a bunch of decisions to be made, unless I have something very specific I want to capture, what of the gear comes with, the small bag or the large bag, and I can't leave anything in the car, for obvious reasons. Sports game? -simplicity of use - you have one focal length, you don't have to decide what you want, you know the angle, use your feet, you know what you are able to shoot and so when you recognize a good shot, you take it -no swivel might actually be good - one less thing to be able to adjust, again, you know the limitations and when you accept them, it's an advantage -it was designed so that the photographer focuses on the subject, not on the buttons and swivels and rings and switches and everything else on the gear -minimal, if any, post processing -40mm might be perfect focal length if you can only have one Battery life and battery indicators are inconvenient, but that just means you must have at least one more battery with you at all times, preferably 4 in total.

Will this camera focus down to 1:2? Is the lens somewhat flat field in macro? I know it’s not a repo copy lens but wanted to use it to quickly digitize old 120 negs for use online and I don’t have time to scan anymore.

The GR is a superb, affordable street camera but I prefer the Q, for the ease of use, full frame and viewfinder. 28 versus 40? Each to their own, but with full frame 28 you can crop or be bold and move closer.

So what gear was used for the audio?

gr iii + gw4 + gr iiix + gt 2 is a pretty complete and compact travel kit. 21mm, 28mm, 40mm, and 75mm which fits in a relatively small bag.

Well did they fix the dust in sensor ? After 3 months of use putting the gr in my pocket, dust will go in your sensor

zastanawiam się nad zakupem Ricoh GR IIIx, Sony RX 100VII czy może Canon G1X mark III ?? Który z tych egzemplarzy będzie spisywał się lepiej??

Is there a camera similar to the GR, but with a flip up screen? 🤔

Having one of these on loan right now, I wish there were more custom button assignment options and the digital level was bigger, like on Fuji or Panasonic. Otherwise, surprisingly great in the hand for how tiny it is!

Does the GR 2 have full press snap?

Good review. I have the GR II and III. I'll wait for the IV. I like the 40mm equiv. focal length but not on a fixed-lens camera. You can crop in, you can't crop out. I'd like to see a slighty bigger GR IV that offers weather-sealing, a tilt-up screen for waist-level shooting, and maybe an attachable EVF or a pop-up OVF. I can live with the battery life.

Hey pros, I get that the iPhone 12 pro is only 12 megapixels but other than that is there any con? Based on the sample pics and videos the iphone is better in every regard.

Can you tell me please the brand of your crossbody bag? Thank you for the great review. Now I am subscribed to your channel 😊

Glad I still have my Fuji X70. If they'd release an updated version of that...

I‘m still heartbroken for selling my grii some years ago. „Best camera is the one that’s with you“-Factor is unbeatable

The main problem of Ricoh was dust on the sensor! Is the problem still there?

In my streetphoto-kit I have Ricoh GR III (28mm), Fuji X100V and Sony RX1RII, despite the weaknesses that Chris pointed, The Ricoh GRIII is still the best knife in my shelf, according to streetphotography. I'm ending up choosing this camera in my pocket 95% of the time, because of size, weight and ease of use, when I'm shooting on streets. 40mm is not my favourite, så I still prefer my incredible RX1RII with 35mm f2 Zeiss lens, if I need longer focal length

I would prefer an EVF. Not sure about this Ricoh, but most LCD screens are difficult to see in bright sunlight.

I was looking into the gr3 couple years ago. Decided to go with Fuji cause I like the more ”manual look”. I mean all adjustments have their own button and I don't need to scroll menus. And I chose xt-20 over the x100f so that I could change the body and keep the lenses when that time comes. I use it with the 27mm lens. So this review peaked my interest but there was less about the lens I expected. Great review but I'll stick to Fuji.

Hi Chris, your shoulder bag looks very fancy. Which manufactorer is it from?

This video has twisted my arm and forced me to add the Olympus EM1 mkiii to my Amazon cart

"They don't have the money" That hurt even though I don't have a Ricoh, don't know how actual owners would feel 😂

I had a GRII in the past and loved the form factor, the ergonomics and the image quality. The focal length was just not for me. I also had some issues with dust. I had to send the camera to a repair center for a sensor cleaning....an expensive pain in the neck for a camera that wasn't cheap...I've heard that the GRIII didn't totally solve that problem. Sure, this 40mm is really...I mean REALLY...tempting. But at 1000€, durability, build quality and dust protection are a big concern. I think I'll pass.

Hi Chris and Jordan, do you think it will be a good family camera for taking pictures for kids? (Heard that autofocus is not impressive but would like to know your thoughts about its ability to shoot portraits/family photos instead of street photography/landscape)

Hi, I am not sure whether to buy an iPhone 15 pro or this GR. Anyone can give me some advice? Thank you.

I would LOVE to have this camera as a fun and portable relaxed supplement to my Leica M10 - but I am not sure, I would be able to live with the low battery life and the lack of a viewfinder.......... not at that pricepoint ! Which is a shame, because I think they finally nailed the focal length for a do-it-all street/leisure/travel camera !

SNAPERTURE. Genius!

Just got this one as my first expensive and new camera, they better not release a successor in the next 2 years

4:00 OMG! You missed Forrest Gump behind you walking to tell histories LOL.

Jordan is genius starting from 6.48